lines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. LINES.

FIFTH WHEEL.

Patented June 19, 1888.

(N0 Mode-1.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. LINES.

FIFTH WHEEL. No. 384,632. Patented June 19, 1888.

ATTO R N EYS.

TATES NITE PATENT FFICE.

FRED LINES, OF SYRACUSE, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF T\VO;THIRDS TO FRANK HISLEY AND MARTIN J. HOGAN, OF SAME PLACE.

,, FIFTH-WHEEL.

ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,632, dated June 19, 1888.

Application filed October 19, 1887. Serial No. 252,785.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED LINES, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels for Vehicles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the part of a vehicle termed fifth-wheel, and theobject isto provideafifth-whcelwhichis connectedtotheheadblock, so as to dispense with the king-bolt and at the same time secure an easy movement in cramping and turning the vehicle to which it is applied; and to this end the invention consists, essentially, in a fifth-wheel composed of two parts, one of which has segmental ways, and the other part is provided with frictionrollers running freely in the segmental ways, and the two parts of the fifth-wheel are con nected, respectively, to the axle and head-block, all as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In specifying my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters in dicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an isometric inverted view of my improved fifth-wheel detached from a vehicle and illustrating the general features of con struction. Fig. 2 shows a detached view of the part of the fifth-wheelhaving the segmental ways. Fig. 3 is a like view of the corresponding part provided with friction-rollers which run in the segmental ways of the other part. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the cap, the parts shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 representing all of the parts of the improved fifth-wheel detached from each other. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a vehicle axle, spring, and head-block with my improved fifth-wheel applied thereto. Fig. 6 shows a. top plan of the same with the spring and head-block removed for the purposes of illustration. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line so :0, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 3 3 Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 2 z of Fig. 5, these last three views illustrating the detail construction and devices for connecting the parts together.

A denotes a vehicle-axle of any suitable (No model.)

construction. 13 is the head-block mounted on the axle and connected to my improved fifth-wheel by bolts 1) b.

S is the vehicle-spring, of any desirable construction, the bolts 1) I) passing through the said spring, and the head-block B secures the spring tothe head-block.

My improved fifth-wheel is composed of the parts 1, Fig. 4; 3, Figs. 1 and 2; and 6, Fig. 3. The part 3, Figs. 1 and 2, consists of segmental guideways 4 4, and bars d d,pro jecting ina straight line on each side of the segmental guideways 4 4. The segmental guideways 4 4 and their bars d 01 rest upon acorrespondinglyshaped piece, 6, Fig. 3, provided with segmental plates 7 7, coinciding in contour and dimension with the segmental guideways 4 4, and with rectilineal bars (2 d, coinciding with the bars (I d of the part 3.

The segmental plates 7 7 are provided with the friction-rollers r r r, located, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the said frictionrollers being adapted to fit closely in the segmental links or guideways 4 4, and to roll therein as the vehicle is cramped or turned.

It willbe observed that the friction-rollers r r at the extremities of the segmental plate 7 in Fig. 3 constitute pivots upon which the segmental guide-links 4 4 turn as the vehicle is cramped either to the right or left, while the central friction roller 1' serves as a guideroller, which steadies the movement of the parts.

- In order to afford a bearing for the frictionroller spindles r r on the under side of the device, I provide the cap-piece 1, Fig. 4, and insert the spindles r of the friction-rollers r in the holes 2, bored in the cap-piece 1, and the same form bearings for the roller'spindles and at the same time serve to secure the parts in operative position.

It will be observed, also, that the movement of the two parts of my improved fifth-Wheel is in the arc of a circle described on either one or the other of the friction-rollers r r at the extremities of the segmental plate 7, accord ing as the vehicle is cramped or turned to the right or left; and since the friction-rollers r1- fit snugly within the segmental guideways or limbs 4 4, the movement is substantially without friction and the clamping or turning of the vehicle is effected with the expenditure of very littleforce or power, and consequently all rack or strain on the running-gear is avoided and the durability of the vehicle thereby greatly enhanced.

In order to provide a simple and efficient connection for the reaches of the vehicle, I provide the limbs S S on the extremities of the segmental plates 7 7 of the part 6 of my improved fifth-wheel, and the reaches are connected to the said limbs in the usual manner. This form of connection serves to dispense with the necessity of continuing the reach up to the draw-head of the vehicle and the mortising necessary to make the connection there with.

At Fig. 5 I have shown my improved fifthwheel connected to an elliptic spring and headblock, 13, together with my preferred plan of connecting the fifth-wheel to the axle A of the vehicle.

It will be observed that I place the arms d d of the part 3 on the axle, and in the scores 5 5 I pass the clips C- C, Fig. 5, and secure the same firmly to the axle A.

The scores 5 5 in the arms d d serve to allow the arms (1 d to come flush with each other when the clips 0 O are secured in position, as shown in Fig. 5, while the arms d are secured to the head-block B by bolts 11, passing through the arms d, and the bolts 1') b, passing through the segmental plates 7 7, through the headblock and spring S. I do not, however, restrict my invention to the particular method of securing the same to the headbIock, axle, or vehicle-spring S, since anyparticular manner of attaching the same may be resorted to without departing from the principle of my invention, the essential characteristic of the attachment depending simply on leaving the part 6, carrying the segmental plates 7 7, free to turn in the segmental guideways 4 4, as shown in Fig. 6. Neither do I restrict my invention to the specific construction of the parts asillustrated herein, which constitutes the preferred example of my invention.

The segmental guide-slots 4 4 may be constructed as shown in Fig. 2, where one set of the guide-slots are cut off from the other set. The object of doing this is simply to limit the throw or movement of the segmental links on the frictiourollers 7 r, and to overcome any tendency of the upper friction-roller to strike on the corners of the guideways in turning, and thereby bind or interfere with the free movement of the part 6.

The operation of my invention is as stated hereinbefore, and the same aifords a very efficieut and strong device for the purpose and dispenses with the king-bolt in the construction of vehicles.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A fifth-wheel composed of two parts having two pivotal centers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A fifth-wheel composed of intersecting segmental guide-links having ways for frictionrollers, and friction-rollers running in said ways when the vehicle is cramped or turned, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Afifth-wheel havinga guideway composed of segmental links and moving pivot-centers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A fiftl1-wheel composed of two segmental guide-links bisecting each other and two corresponding segmentplates having frictionrollers engaging the guide-links, the said fric-' tion-rollers being arranged at the angles of an equilateral triangle in relation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the part 3, having bars (I d, segmental guide-links 4 4, and the part 6, having segmental plates 7 7, frictionrollers 1* r 7', and caps 1, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The part 6, having segmental plates 7, rollers 1*, and limbs 8, in combination with the segmental guide-links 4, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with a vehicle-axle, of the two-part segmental fifth-wheel having moving pivot-centers and a head-block, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 15th day of October, 1887.

FRED LINES.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, E. O. CANNON. 

